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An Interview with Detective Maria Mateo and a New Lower Price for Wounded Bride
My first novel, Wounded Bride, was published two years ago today! “Mateo.” A shudder ripples through me. It’s strange to be talking to the fictional detective that I’ve created. “Hi, um, it’s Hyacinth Grey.” There’s a pause. Is she going to hang up on me or will she meet me for an interview? “You’re Hyacinth…
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The Dark Tide
Die Religion … ist das Opium des Volkes. – Karl Marx Everyone had been called to Worship. I stood outside the temple, and waited for the doors to be opened. It was early morning, and very bright, with sunbeams reflecting off the snow that had fallen the night before. I felt exposed, standing as I…
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Check out a piece of free horror fiction
A year ago, I started to write Lockdown. It’s finished now, and is available as both a blog post and as a podcast episode. Click the buttons below to open the blog post or the podcast episode.
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NaNoWriMo 2020 Romance Novel Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Martin Susan looks at me blankly. Wow, she must really be tired. No problem. I’ll help her out. “You’ve been so upbeat lately, and your skin is really glwoing. So I thought, well, could you be expecting?” “What? You mean like expecting a baby? No way.” She laughs. “All that stuff about pregnant…
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NaNoWriMo 2020 Romance Novel Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Susan I keep telling people on my show that they can write, and in early December, I’m ready to revise my tenth book. I’m careful this time. After I’ve seen Martin off to work, I wash up the breakfast dishes and do any urgent housework, and then I go into my office. I…
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NaNoWriMo 2020 Romance Novel Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Susan I suppose I’ll just have to accept that he’s no longer interested in my books, if he ever was. Has our seven-year marriage been a sham? I hate to think that way, but what if it’s true? I go into the room we prepared for the child we haven’t had. It’s my…
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NaNoWriMo 2020 Romance Novel Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Martin The house smells great. Susan’s in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on our dinner. “Hi honey,” she says. “Did you have a nice day today?” Did I? Well, the hour with Melanie was wonderful, but I wouldn’t call the rest of the day good. “I finished the book.” “Yes, I had…
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Lockdown – Horror Fiction – Complete Story
Podcast Episode This is a work of fiction inspired by a Tweet by @mims_words about vampires during lockdown. It was published in ten parts on this blog, and those can be heard as separate podcast episodes, but I thought you might like to read or listen to all of it at once. Here you go.…
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Day 17
Chapter 22: Martin Well, today’s the day. I need to make sure Melanie doesn’t see the paper. One of us normally gets it and puts it in the living room. I have to work, and it’s my turn to make breakfast. I won’t have time to sit and read the paper, so I can’t take…
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Day 16
Chapter 19: Susan There’s a problem with my idea to tell Matthew what he’s done. I don’t want to go to his place ever again. And in spite of her promise, I’m afraid that my doctor might call Martin about me. She doesn’t know my new address, but I gave her my new number when…
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Day 15
Chapter 18: Melanie Something’s going on with Martin. There are inconsistencies in things he says and does. One thing is about cooking meals. He wanted to ask his mom to come live with us. That wouldn’t worry me, except for the house. One day when we visited her, she mentioned loving her job because she…
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Day 14
Chapter 17: Susan I haven’t slept well the last few days. I leave work and don’t need to work tomorrow, or is that tonight, but I’m too tired to do anything. I crawl into bed. A piercing sound wakes me. What is it? It sounds like a fire alarm. My heart pounds. I leap out…
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Day 13
Chapter 15: Matthew I don’t think too many people believe in love at first sight. I know I didn’t used to. Now I do. I don’t even know her name yet, but I know that I love her. Dad would say I’m bonkers. Mom would say I’m nuts. Both would ask: how can you love…
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Day 12
Chapter 14: Martin Melanie and I end up in her car. It smells much better than mine, but is a lot smaller. That’s not a problem. She is so much fun to be with, and the thought of going home to Susan fills me with dread, but I know I can’t stay out much past…
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Day 11
Chapter 13: Susan Martin hardly speaks to me anymore. Living with him is like living with a ghost who can eat. Thank goodness I have my books to write and my show to do. On the second Saturday in March, Jeff calls at seven. “Hi,” he says. “I’m not feeling so great.” He doesn’t sound…
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Day 10
Chapter 12: Martin My first date with Melanie is everything I’d hoped for, except I can’t take her home with me. We step out into the freezing night and go to our separate cars. I sit in mine with the engine running and watch her drive away. I imagine myself carrying her into the bedroom,…
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Day 9
Chapter 11: Susan I’m so relieved that Martin’s not in the house breathing down my neck all the time. The Christmas-loving kid is gone, and although he was annoying, I prefer him to the quiet, sullen man I send off each morning and greet each evening. We mostly keep away from each other, and he’s…
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Day 7
Chapter 8: Martin “Martin?” I recognize Connie’s voice, and she sounds worried. I look up from my desk. Luke is home with the flu, but it’s Tuesday, so I won’t be seeing Melanie today. “What’s wrong?” “My son’s sick. It seems like there’s a bad bug going around his school. I’ve called Rick, but he…
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Day 6
Chapter 7: Susan I’m so nervous, I can hardly do up the buttons on my blouse. It’s just after seven on Tuesday, and my interview at the radio station is for eight. What will they ask me? What if I fall apart and run screaming? I’ve never even called into a radio show, let alone…
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Day 3
Chapter 3: Rick I’ve been asked to work a double shift, so I’m at work at 6:00 a.m. Amazing how many peeps are here already. I reach for my coffee and knock it over. Oh man. I look around, but don’t see any paper towels or napkins. It’s all over the desk and under the…